Geranium plant named ‘Gentreo’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Geranium  plant named ‘Gentreo’ that is characterized by semi-double orange-red flowers, medium green foliage with a strong zonation pattern, an early flower response and a medium growth habit.

Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Variety denomination: ‘Gentreo’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Gentreo’.

The new cultivar is the product of a breeding program conducted by the inventor in a cultivated area of Hagenbach, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new Geranium cultivars that are early flowering with semi-double flowers and medium green foliage.

‘Gentreo’ is a hybrid that originated from the hybridization of the female or seed parent a proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum identified by the name ‘Toro-Type’ (not patented) and the male or pollen parent a proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum identified by number 192/92 (not patented). The cultivar ‘Gentreo’ was selected by the inventor in June of 2001 as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment of Hagenbach, Germany.

Asexual reproduction by terminal cuttings of the new cultivar ‘Gentreo’ were first done in September of 2002 in Hagenbach, Germany. Since that time, under careful observation, the unique characteristics of the new cultivar have been uniform, stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Geranium cultivar ‘Gentreo’. These traits in combination distinguish ‘Gentreo’ as a new and distinct cultivar apart from other known existing varieties of Geranium.

-   -   1. Geranium ‘Gentreo’ exhibits orange-red flowers.     -   2. Geranium ‘Gentreo’ exhibits semi-double flowers.     -   3. Geranium ‘Gentreo’ exhibits medium green foliage with a         strong zonation pattern.     -   4. Geranium ‘Gentreo’ exhibits an early flower response.     -   5. Geranium ‘Gentreo’ exhibits a medium growth habit.

The closest comparison variety is Geranium ‘Rena’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,571). ‘Gentreo’ is different than ‘Rena’ in having a shorter plant height, shorter internodes, shorter leaves and smaller flowers.

The new cultivar ‘Gentreo’ is distinguishable from the female parent Geranium proprietary selection ‘Toro-Type’ in having lighter green leaves and orange-red flowers.

The new cultivar ‘Gentreo’ is distinguishable form the male parent Geranium proprietary selection 192/92 in having orange-red flowers. The flowers of 192/92 are pink.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguishing traits of Geranium ‘Gentreo’. The plant in the photograph shows an overall view of a 12 week old plant. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Geranium cultivar named ‘Gentreo’. Data was collected in Hagenbach, Germany from 12 week old plants grown under glass greenhouse conditions. The plants were grown in 12 cm diameter containers. The time of year was Spring and the daytime temperature ranged from 18 to 26° Centigrade. The temperature at night ranged from 16 to 20° Centigrade. The light level was 20 to 35 klux. No photoperiodic treatments were used. The growth retardant CYCOCEL 720 was applied at a rate of 0.05 percent. Color determinations are in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The growing requirements are similar to the species.

‘Gentreo’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without any variance in genotype.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar ‘Gentreo’. -   Annual or Perennial: Annual. -   Parentage: ‘Gentreo’ is a hybrid plant that resulted from the     hybridization of the following parent plants:     -   -   Female parent.—A proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×hortorum identified by the name ‘Toro-Type’.         -   Male parent.—A proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum             identified by number 192/92. -   Vigor: Moderate. -   Growth rate: Approximately 6 cm. per month. -   Growth habit: Upright, outwardly spreading. -   Plant shape: Globose. -   Plant height: Average 16 cm. in height. -   Plant width: Average 24 cm. in width. -   Suitable container size: 11 to 14 cm containers. -   Propagation: Terminal cuttings. -   Time to initiate roots: Approximately 5-7 days to produce roots on     an initial cutting. -   Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner: Approximately 20-24 days. -   Crop time: From a rooted cutting, approximately 12 weeks are     required to produce a finished flowering plant. -   High temperature tolerance: 40 degrees Centigrade. -   Low temperature tolerance: 0 degrees Centigrade. -   Root system: Fine and fibrous.     -   -   Stem.—Branching habit: Free branching. Basal branching: Yes.             Average number of lateral branches: 4. Pinching: No. Lateral             branch dimensions: 9.5 cm. in length and 1.3 cm. in             diameter. Lateral branch strength: Moderate. Color: 143B.             Pubescence: Present. Internode length: 1.9 cm. between             nodes. Shape: Round. Surface: Glabrous, slightly glossy.         -   Foliage.—Texture: Both sides smooth. Leaf arrangement:             Alternate. Compound or single: Single. Quantity of leaves             per lateral branch: 14. Leaf shape: Reniform. Leaf apex:             Rounded. Leaf base: Cordate. Leaf length: 4 cm. in length.             Leaf width: 7 cm. in width. Pubescence: Present both sides.             Leaf margin: Bicrenate. Vein pattern: Plamate. Young leaf             color (upper surface): 144A. Young leaf color (lower             surface): 144B. Mature leaf color (upper surface): 137C.             Mature leaf color (lower surface): 137C. Vein color (upper             surface): 137C. Vein color (lower surface): 146C. Zonation             pattern: Strong. Zonation color: 200A. Leaf attachment:             Petiolate. Petiole dimensions: 6 cm. in length and 1.5 mm.             in width. Petiole color: 146B.         -   Stipules.—Stipule dimensions: 1.2 cm in length and 0.8 cm in             width. Stipule color: 143C.         -   Inflorescence.—Inflorescence arrangement: Rounded             hemispherical umbels. Inflorescence type: Umbel.             Inflorescence dimensions. 4.5 cm in height and 10.0 cm in             width. Flowering habit: Continuous. Quantity of flowers per             inflorescence: Approximately 6. Quantity of buds per lateral             stem: Approximately 32. Quantity of flowers and buds per             plant. Approximately 152. Flower season: Spring to Summer.             Time to flower: Approximately 12 weeks. Rate of flower             opening: Approximately 12% of the flowers are opened at             once. Fragrance: None. Bud dimensions: 6 mm. in length and             3.8 mm in diameter. Bud shape: Ovoid. Bud color: 143B. Rate             of bud opening: 3 days. Flower aspect: Upright. Flower             shape: Shallow cup shaped, rounded, semi-double. Flower             dimensions: 5 cm. in diameter and 1.7 cm. in height. Flower             longevity: Lasts approximately 10 days on plant. Petal             texture: Glabrous. Petal arrangement: Zygomorph. Number of             petals: 9 in number. Petals fused or unfused: Unfused. Petal             shape: Ovate. Petal margin: Entire. Petal apex: Rounded.             Petal base: Attenuate. Petal dimensions: 2.1 cm. in length             and 1.9 cm. in width. Upper petal color when opening (upper             side): 33A. Lower petal color when opening (upper side):             33A. Upper petal color when opening (under side): 33B to             33C. Lower petal color when opening (under side): 33B to             33C. Upper petal color fully opened (upper side): 33A. Lower             petal color fully opened (upper side): 33A. Upper petal             color fully opened (under side): 33B to 33C. Lower petal             color fully opened (under side): 33B to 33C. Petaloid shape:             Sail-like. Petaloid quantity: Average 3. Petaloid             dimensions: 1 cm. in length and 0.2 cm. in width. Petaloid             color, young: 33A. Petaloid color, mature: 33A.         -   Self-cleaning or persistent.—Persistent.         -   Sepals.—Number of sepals: 5. Sepal surface: Upper side: dull             and smooth, Lower side: pubescent. Sepal shape: Lancet.             Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal base:             Cuneate. Sepal dimensions: 1 cm. in length and 2.5 mm. in             width. Sepal color immature (upper side): 143B. Sepal color             immature (under side): 143B. Sepal color mature (upper             side): 143B; with light red base. Sepal color mature (under             side): 143B. Calyx shape: Cup-shaped. Calyx dimensions: 9 mm             in length, 1.7 cm in diameter, and 6 mm in height.         -   Peduncle.—Peduncle dimensions: 12 cm. in length and 3 mm. in             diameter. Peduncle color: 147B. Peduncle strength:             Moderately strong.         -   Pedicels.—Pedicel dimensions: 2.0 cm. in length and 1.2 mm.             in diameter. Pedicel color (young): 178A. Pedicel color             (mature): 178A. Pedicel strength: Moderate.         -   Reproduction organs.—Stamen number: 6. Anther shape: Ovate.             Anther dimensions: 2.5 mm. in length. Anther color: 61B.             Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: 31A. Pistil             number: 1 in number. Pistil dimensions: 8 mm. in length.             Stigma shape: Five parted, star shaped. Stigma color: 46A.             Style length: 5 mm. Style color: 46A. Ovary color: 143B. -   Seed: Seed production has not been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Plants of the new geranium have not     been observed for disease or pest resistance. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Geranium plant named ‘Gentreo’ as described and illustrated. 